Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal must try to restore a sense of pride against Ghana

William Carvalho immediately improved Portugal’s game, but the team were unable to beat USA (Picture: Getty Images)

Only a strange and highly unlikely set of results would allow Portugal to progress from the group stages. Last Sunday’s last-minute draw against the United States means that Thursday’s match against an impressive Ghana might be the last time the Selecção will be able to strut their stuff on sun-kissed Brazilian pitches before following the example of most European powerhouses and heading back home.

Now that most supporters of the Portuguese national team have had the chance to vent their opinions – which has generally involved chastising and throwing some Internet-based vitriol towards their national representatives, criticising everything and everyone from the cooks to the coach – there seems to be a nationwide feeling that the World Cup is done and dusted, regardless of the marginal chance of progressing. The consensus seems to be that the team must make supporters feel proud once again: If not of the team’s results, at least of their attitude and commitment.

Following what can only be described as a wretched campaign, with numerous muscle injuries adding question marks to the team’s preparations and eventual results, supporters seem united in their indomitable will to see players making their country’s colours fly high. The result may not be that important, but virtually every Portuguese soul will be looking for a restorative display of pride and willpower.

Between enemy lines

After closely watching their match against Germany ahead of the dreadful game versus the United States, every fan and pundit felt flabbergasted by the Africans’ stamina and willingness to take the game to the Germans and sooner or later ended up thinking, whispering or screaming ‘Why on earth couldn’t Portugal do the same?’ The Ghanaians’ perceived quasi-invincibility (at least as far as the team led by Paulo Bento is concerned) is certainly amplified by the Portuguese ineptitude, but may not be exactly accurate.

In fact, there are two major features of the Black Stars’ game that may end up playing into Portugal’s hands. Firstly, Ghanaian centre-backs and midfielders have repeatedly shown that they lack the necessary collective and technical skills to bring the ball out from the back, often getting caught in possession.

On the other hand, despite exerting some intense pressure upon their opponents’ back line via their forwards, a simple pass or one-two has proven to be more than able to bisect Ghana’s often light-looking midfield, which frequently leads to promising situations in attack. Given Portugal’s inability to break down a packed defence, allowing the opposing side time on the ball and then pouncing on mistakes while in possession might just be what Cristiano Ronaldo & co need to leave Brazil with some pride restored.